Arrests made in slaying of former gang member

Friday

Sep 23, 2011 at 8:00 AMSep 23, 2011 at 5:45 PM

Four men charged in the slaying Sunday of Juan Melendez were ordered held without bail today in Central District Court. Mr. Melendez, 34, was identified as a former member of the Vice Lords gang. Assistant District Attorney Marc Dupuis said several of the suspects in the case are members of the Kilby Street Posse.

By Lee Hammel TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

Four men charged in the slaying Sunday of Juan Melendez were ordered held without bail today in Central District Court.

Mr. Melendez, 34, was identified as a former member of the Vice Lords gang. He was sentenced in 1999 to 16 years in federal prison on drug and gun charges. Assistant District Attorney Marc Dupuis said several of the suspects in the case are members of the Kilby Street Posse.

Mr. Melendez, who police said lived at 5 Loxwood St., was found shot in a car at 74 Rodney St. shortly after 3 a.m. Sunday. About 13 hours later the Granite Street address at which one of the suspects lives was shot up.

There was heavy security, including about a dozen Worcester police and at least eight court officers, in the third-floor courtroom in Central District Court today, where 28 people were scanned for weapons before they were allowed to enter. Judge Paul L. McGill warned spectators to leave if they could not obey his order against outbursts, and there was no disruption.

A fifth person was recorded on video arriving at the scene and fleeing with the others, according to the prosecutor.

Mr. Melendez was the seventh homicide victim in the city this year.

Worcester police said that anyone with information about the incident can send an anonymous text to 274637 TIPWPD + your message or send an anonymous web based message at worcesterma.gov/police. Calls can also be made to the Worcester Police Detective Bureau at (508) 799-8651.